Land vehicles – Suspension modification enacted during travel – Suspension stiffness for ride comfort
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2001-05-22
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Suspension modification enacted during travel
Suspension stiffness for ride comfort
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234492
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to methods and systems for providing variable load control and isolation in a vehicle suspension.
The suspension of a vehicle allows it to drive smoothly over a bumpy road. The wheels may jolt up and down, but springs between the wheel axles and the body of the car flex and take up the force of the jolts. This ensures that the force of the bumping is not transferred to the vehicle. Springs alone produce a bouncing motion, so the suspension also contains dampers, commonly known as shock absorbers. These slow the movement of the springs to prevent the vehicle and its occupants bouncing up and down.
Current suspension elements, such as the front axle member, springs and dampers, are composed of materials and/or substances that provide a singular response to load inputs. It is desirable, however, to provide a suspension element that addresses changes in stiffness to effect the desired response of the suspension system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and system for providing variable load control and isolation in a vehicle suspension is provided. At least one sensor senses the road conditions traveled by, or to be traveled by, the vehicle and generates corresponding road condition signals. An electronic control unit is coupled to the sensor, or sensors, for receiving the signals representative of the road conditions and generating corresponding electrical control signals for varying the stiffness of the suspension.
A variably flexible suspension element is coupled between the frame of the vehicle and the wheel and has an electrically responsive material disposed therein that varies stiffness in response to electrical signals applied thereto by the electronic control unit. The electrical control signals may be transmitted through the variably flexible suspension element via a plurality of electrodes dispersed therethrough.
The variably flexible suspension element preferably comprises at least two different layers of electrically responsive materials. As examples, these layers of materials may be any combination of rheological, crystalline, or piezoelectric materials. Other appropriate materials may be used.
These and other features of the present invention can be understood from the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4900054 (1990-02-01), Kessler
patent: 5390949 (1995-02-01), Naganathan et al.
patent: 5609353 (1997-03-01), Watson
patent: 0133589 (1984-08-01), None
patent: 0563845 (1993-03-01), None
Burmeister Kurt A.
Ledesma Ragnar
Miller Steven R.
Platner David K.
Reynolds Mark P.
Carlson Gaskey & Olds P.C.
Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LLC
Rice Kenneth R.
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